Farewell, Binky!

{The following is an excerpt from my journal, written 02 June 2009. Since it's been so long since I've posted, I thought I would share. It's fairly wordy, as my journal entries tend to be. Sorry. And you're welcome- for posting.}



Farewell, sweet, loyal, wonderful Binky! :( As of pretty much right now, James is going Binky-free. He has to. It might be making him sick.

You see, my sweet boy is like an infection waiting to happen. As an itty bitty, he and I both had a sinus infection. I don't remember how old he was, but it was when we had our blue couches. I remember sleeping on them and holding James on my chest-- that way we could both be fairly upright, and could therefore breathe. Then when he was 11 months, he got that horrid bladder infection. Well, I guess it was actually around 8 months that he got it, and 11 months when he was circumcised- which finally cured him. Since then, he's had everything. Two to three ear infections, an eye infections, several sinus infections... the poor, poor boy.

A couple of weeks ago (the night before we planned to move- go figure {more on the move later}), James woke up in the middle of the night throwing up and spiking a fever. With him, we've learned that a pattern exists: infection = fever = vomit. We took him in to Dr. Stevens (love him!) and yep- ear infection. He put him on some antibiotics, but on Friday (the last day of the dosage) he broke out in hives. Those persisted over the weekend, and Sunday night he spiked a fever again. He was miserable all night Sunday night and all day Monday. We took him in again. Dr. Stevens said the hives were probably from something outdoors (fabulous), but the fever was 'cause he'd rejected the antibiotics (too familiar) and still had an ear infection! Ugh!

He put him on stronger antibiotics and some prescription benodryl-stuff for the hives and sent us on our way. Before he finished, though, I asked him what we were (are) doing wrong. Do all kids get sick this much? Is James just made up with weak DNA? Are we really just horrible parents?? He reassured me that kids do get sick a ton, and that we are doing a great job. But then he had an idea. James was sucking on his Binky at the time, which triggered it. He said it's not proven, and it's a semi-weak argument, but some in the medical field believe that Binky usage increases the risk of infection in children. It makes some sense. Binkies get dropped on the floor and all kinds of dirty, and kids put them in their mouths. Could be legit. He said it's not something he's backing, but if we're desperate to try something- it's an idea.

So Binky is bye-bye. And James is actually napping just fine. He asked for Binky several times ("Binky is?"), and I told him that the Dr. said Binky was making James sick, so I told Binky, "Get outta here, Binky! Bye-bye! Miss you!" Then told him, "Binky all gone" when he asked for it again. He does get "Mankie" (blankie), though, and "Feeno" (corner- his favorite part of his blankie). So life doesn't altogether suck.

We will miss you, dear Binky. Especially at bedtime- and especially at church. You've been a great friend, and a useful muter. :) Bye-bye, Binky. Bye-bye.



*Update: It's Thursday, and he's still Binky-free. He's done great! He has a harder time going to sleep and doesn't sleep as soundly, but he hardly asks for Binky anymore. And this morning, when he asked for Binky, he immediately replied with, "Oh, Binky bye-bye." :) Smart boy. He has, however, embraced more closely the rest of his entourage: "Mankie" "Beaw" and "Fwen" (blankie, Bear and Friend). They eat with us, watch movies with us, you name it. But that's okay because he doesn't suck on them. Yet. ;)